Rennes leave it late to deny Marseille

A late goal by Romain Alessandrini ensured Rennes picked up a point as they drew 1-1 with Marseille - a result which moves them up into fourth in Ligue 1 and denied their opponents the chance to move up to second.

Marseille were heading for victory when Jordan Ayew volleyed home with seven minutes to go after his brother, Andre, and Kevin Theophile Catherine had traded goals.

However, Rennes were not finished and Alessandrini tapped home a simple goal after goalkeeper Steve Mandanda had parried the ball into his path.

Rock-bottom Nancy claimed their first Ligue 1 win since the opening day of the season with a shock 2-1 victory over European hopefuls Lorient.

Sebastien Puygrenier was his side's match-winner, netting the decisive goal in the 71st minute after Lorient striker Jeremie Aliadiere had cancelled out Paul Alo'o Efoulou's first-half opener for the hosts.

The victory is Nancy's first in the league since downing Brest way back in August and, although it is not enough to move them off the foot of the table, they have now cut the gap to 17th-placed Evian and safety back to six points.

Lorient, who could have moved into fourth place with a win, remain sixth.

Evian and Ajaccio were both frustrated in their bid to pull clear of the Ligue 1 relegation zone after sharing the spoils with a 1-1 draw in Saturday's encounter at Parc des Sports.

Dennis Oliech fired Ajaccio into a first-half lead in Annecy but Daniel Wass' header after the break ensured the contest ended all square as both teams saw their winless runs extend to five matches.

Evian remain one point and one place above the drop zone, while Ajaccio are just a point better off.

Reigning champions Montpellier moved up to seventh in the Ligue 1 table with a comfortable 2-0 win over lowly Sochaux.

Rene Girard's men had a shocking start to the season but have shown signs of recovery over recent months, with the latest coming on Saturday.

They were ahead in the 28th minute through Emanuel Herrera and had things wrapped up when John Utaka doubled their lead six minutes later.

Reims remain mired in the Ligue 1 drop zone after sharing the points with Toulouse on Saturday after a 1-1 draw.

The hosts spurned the chance to take the lead five minutes before the break when Gaetan Courtet saw his penalty saved, and Toulouse capitalised when Etienne Capoue fired them in front early in the second half.

Reims rescued a point inside when Grzegorz Krychowiak lashed home a superb effort from distance, although the result means the hosts remain winless since October 6.

Troyes boosted their hopes of Ligue 1 survival with a narrow 2-1 home victory over Brest.

Goals either side of half-time from Fabien Camus and Stephane Darbion put the second-bottom hosts in control at the Stade de l'Aube.

Eden Ben Basat's strike just after the hour mark gave the visitors hope, but Troyes held on for only their third league win of the campaign.